Why do some children grow up into happy lives, and others never make it?

Brendan James Murray's childhood was one of stark contrasts: vivid imaginative adventures but also disadvantage, fear and the shadow of a school he spent months refusing to attend.

When a silhouette on a freeway overpass forces him to confront the ghosts of his own childhood, he has a defining realisation about the extraordinary power of imagination to transform lives, and the degree to which it has been neglected.

Childhood is a vital and deeply personal investigation into how we can help children find their place in the world, drawn from Brendan's profound and unique perspective as a child, teacher and parent.

This haunting, uplifting memoir is a must-read for everyone seeking to understand how the crucial and overlooked absence of a rich inner life in childhood echoes through all our adult years.

From the acclaimed author of The School: the ups and downs of one year in the classroom.

PRAISE FOR CHILDHOOD

'A profound and timely exploration of the power of imagination to re-enchant and restore meaning to children's lives.' ANDY GRIFFITHS, Australian Children's Laureate

'Bittersweet and so incredibly important. This book is a gift to any teacher or parent who wants to offer the children in their care the richest possible childhood they can.' GABBIE STROUD, author of Teacher and Dear Parents

'Childhood should be savoured slowly. It is a story that unfurls imaginations from foetal positions with compassion, understanding and a kind of brave determination that all educators must strive for.' CARLA SALMON, teacher and author of We Saw What You Started